Cars tall people won't fit in.

Cars tall people won't fit in.

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Discussion

Bebop Beru

157 posts

154 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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R1chy11 said:
SirBlade said:
Agreed, I'm over six foot tall, and the S2K was a tight fit for every day driving. Ditto for the Lotus 340R.
I sat in an S2000 probably five years ago when I wasn't as tall as I am now and I remember thinking there would be no way I could actually drive it.
I'm 6'2 and managed it as a daily driver. Could never see traffic lights when I was at the front of the queue though. Can't imagine anyone taller being comfortable. I know for a fact my brother (same height as OP) couldn't fit in without his head being perpendicular to his body.

c7xlg

862 posts

234 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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6'4" and a bit.

Regular Caterham 7 is possibly but very very uncomfortable/ dangerous. Sv however is a dream.

Porker coxster/boxster is safe and comfy but best without shoes so a pain to live with day in day out. 911 seem better.

My daily drives have been Beemer 5s for last 12+ years. Current e60 doesn't need seat all the way back and possible with a little compromise to get an adult sitting behind me.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

206 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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I think you'd get in an Elise but it'd be snug. When I drove my mates S2 I was fine getting in and out, it was just turning right that was a problem. An M100 Elan was fine though, I'm 6'2 and get height from my legs

LeoSayer

7,325 posts

246 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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I'm 6'4" with long legs.

S2000 is impossible as my knees are wedged between the steering wheel and centre console
Mk1 Elise is OK except I can't change into 5th gear as my knee is in the way
All 911s old and new are no problem, although headroom is tight in air cooled coupes with sunroof
Boxsters I could do with the seat going back another inch or so, but it's adequate
Corrado - perfect, seem built precisely for my body shape
Peugeot 205 - Just fit
Mk2 MX5 - too little room for comfort





R1 CKY

6,618 posts

221 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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rallycross said:
Forget these if you are tall;

S2000
Puma
I'm 6 ft 4 and I did plenty of long journeys in a Puma, wasn't the most spacious, but was bearable. I'd happily have another.




VolvoT5

4,155 posts

176 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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qube_TA said:
Slight tangent, despite most cars being on the snug side from a height POV, there seems to be a tendency to have the pedal area as small as possible, never enough room to rest my left-leg to the side of the clutch, or there's that silly footrest there that is too high and narrow to use. French and German cars seem to be the most guilty of this. My feet are a size 14 and quite wide, some cars are difficult to drive as there's just nowhere to put your feet.

I find driving barefoot helps as it makes my feet a little smaller so I can fit, also stops me scuffing my shoes.
^^ This. I'm 6ft 5 and a bit, size 15's. I find many cars are uncomfortable for one reason or another, but the foot and pedal spacing is nearly always an issue. I usually drive barefoot for any significant journey and in general I find automatics are better as the missing pedal creates some extra room.

People are getting taller and bigger in general, I don't understand why manufacturers are not responding! Every updated model seems to get bigger externally and a yet have less interior space!

FezzaDude

377 posts

177 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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im 6ft and seriously struggled to drive my brothers S2000. Shame really as its a fantastic car and I would have bought one!

Sam.F

1,144 posts

202 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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I think a lot of it depends on "where" your height is - some folk have long legs/short bodies and vice versa. My main issue in a lot of cars is the seat not going back far enough rather than lack of headroom.

I did know or someone a couple of years above me at school who was 6'6" and drove an (original) Mini - the only way he fitted was to loop his left leg over the gearstick!

SWH

1,261 posts

204 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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At 6' an Alfa GTV ('99 model, not a proper classic one) is a decent snug fit, more reclined than awkward... however, one with a sunroof fitted, ouch.

cornet

1,469 posts

160 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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6'1" and no major issues driving an MX5 MK2. It's snug but perfectly acceptable.

J4CKO

41,802 posts

202 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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Im 6,1 and I dont fit in an MGF, my head was above the screen, I was looking at the screen surround, only other issue I have had was an original Scirroco.

Guy that used to work at our place had a S2 Elise and seemed to fit in it, he was tall but had short legs (relatively)

HarveyM

154 posts

175 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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Lancia Montecarlo. frown

cpas

1,661 posts

242 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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I'm 6'4" and had an early Mk1 MX5 for a while, although it did have quite a small (but standard) steering wheel. I do fit into an Elise but would not be able to use 5th gear due to leg/gearstick clash. Getting in and our was fun but possible. Surprisingly, Defenders are fine as are classic Minis! I've never managed to drive a kit car successfully either!!
I have found 3 cars where I don't need the seat fully back - C class Mercedes (old shape), Omega and my current Passat CC.

LayZ

1,639 posts

244 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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6'7" here.

Worst (as in undrivable) - Rover 200 bubble

Best - my old W124.

Had a rental Fiat Panda once and that was marginal. Find most modern VAG stuff to be comfortable.

Speed addicted

5,600 posts

229 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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J4CKO said:
Im 6,1 and I dont fit in an MGF, my head was above the screen, I was looking at the screen surround, only other issue I have had was an original Scirroco.

Guy that used to work at our place had a S2 Elise and seemed to fit in it, he was tall but had short legs (relatively)
This goes back to the proportions again, I'm 6'2" and have an MGF because I wanted a cheap fun convertable and don't fit in MX5s.
It's snug and I do get funny looks if the roof is on when I get out because it's like some sort of trick but I've driven it quite long distances with no problems. It's also a good change from the X5 I drive otherwise!

Other cars I've wanted but can't have.
Mitsubishi 3000 GTO
Porsche 911 (930 or 964) just can't get on with the driving position.
Older Range Rovers, if they have a sunroof I don't fit.
3 Series BMWs (E36 and E46) if they have a sunroof.

I also don't get on well with sports bikes.








Spyder3400

234 posts

165 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2011
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Ditto 6'5 here. In 2 seaters be prepared to wield spanners.

If you're looking at new 2 seaters that fit concentrate on the manufacturer who has at least 2 test drivers over 6'4 (Walter Rohrl being one).
If you've not guessed it yet it's Porsche - lots of room, even more if you modify the seat rails. Sport bucket seats are designed to allow access to the rear to bolt the seats to the floor/rails.

For what it's worth- mx5 mk1 is fine, again be prepared to modify/remove seat rails and voila you will fit. Remove the seat mounts and bolt to floor and bingo you will sit low enough to get a good 2-3inches under a roll bar.

HTH


Edited by Spyder3400 on Tuesday 23 August 23:51

mikeyr

3,118 posts

195 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
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SWH said:
At 6' an Alfa GTV ('99 model, not a proper classic one) is a decent snug fit, more reclined than awkward... however, one with a sunroof fitted, ouch.
Agree yes
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

General consesus was that your limb proportions are a key factor though!

SWH

1,261 posts

204 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
mikeyr said:
SWH said:
At 6' an Alfa GTV ('99 model, not a proper classic one) is a decent snug fit, more reclined than awkward... however, one with a sunroof fitted, ouch.
Agree yes
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

General consesus was that your limb proportions are a key factor though!
Luckily I'm the right proportions to pretty much fit, Mrs SWH fits fine, so lowering the seat as in that AO thread isn't really needed.... fairly neat idea though; now the question I have is, will the spare set of seats from the scrap GTV I purchased for its bodywork and lights fit in my MGB...?!

johnpeat

5,328 posts

267 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
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LukeSi said:
Shoop da Woop, glad to hear that, I am also 6ft5 and at some point want a Mk1 MX5. Glad to know I will fit, (even better with Elise seats I imagine.)
You'll need more than a change of seats if you're long-in-the-leg.

There's very little room to get your leg between the wheel and the console - you could put a smaller wheel on perhaps - but you'd need MILES of rearwards travel to obvigate that otherwise (like putting the seats in the boot).

Smaller wheel might help your right leg too - which will otherwise be severed by the door handle as it closes. You could remove the door panel and just rig-up a bit of string to open it perhaps? smile

EVERYONE has to try a car for size because everyone is a different shape and drives in a different position. You also need to check specific cars as interior layouts/seats change by model/age/spec etc. etc.

It's nonsense to say "anyone can drive if they just move the seat and compromise" - there are cars I couldn't drive without taking a sledgehammer to the centre console - ripping out the door panel - pulling the roof-off - drilling bits of the dashboard out and/or sitting in the boot smile

johnpeat

5,328 posts

267 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
R1 CKY said:
I'm 6 ft 4 and I did plenty of long journeys in a Puma, wasn't the most spacious, but was bearable. I'd happily have another.
I've said this many times but there are 2 different interiors in Puma and the earlier one is a BIT more tall-people friendly (as the seat moves back a bit further).

I can drive the older cars - it's tight but it works - but the later cars require contortionism and I'd just not bother...